Suction cleaner having adjustable nozzle with converter and handle interlock



May 11, 1954 G. E. KAUFMAN 2,677,849 SUCTION CLEANER HAVING ADJUSTABLE NOZZLE WITH CONVERTER AND HANDLE INTERLOCK Filed May 14, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

May 11, 1954 s. E. KAUFMAN SUCTION CLEANER HAVING ADJUSTABLE NOZZLE WITH CONVERTER AND HANDLE INTERLOCK Flled May 14, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 6 602396 E/ aafin an y 1954 s. E. KAUFMAN I 2,577,849

SUCTION CLEANER HAVING ADJUSTABLE NOZZLE 7 WITH CONVERTER AND HANDLE INTERLOCK Filed May 14, 1951 4 Sheets-$hget 3 INVENTOR. I e i. fife g man May 1954 cs. E. KAUFMAN SUCTION CLEANER HAVING ADJUSTABLE NOZZLE WITH CONVERTER AND HANDLE INTERLOCK Flled May 14, 1951 -4 Sheets Sheet 4 $602296 2?. Kaufman o/qy Patented May 11, 1954 2,677,849 SUCTION CLEANER HAVING ADJUSTABLE NOZZLE WITH CON DLE INTERLOCK George E. Kaufman,

corporation of Ohio VERTER AND HAN- Canton, Ohio, assignor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a

Application May 14, 1951, Serial No. 226,148

17 Claims. 1

My present invention relates to the art of suction cleaners and has for its principal objects the provision of a nozzle position control, handle interlock and dusting tool converter embodying some or all the features and relations set forth hereinbelow.

According to my invention, a foot pedal, or other operator actuated means, is provided for shifting the suction nozzle to a high cleaning position and the nozzle is returned to normal cleaning position each time the propelling handie is placed in a predetermined position such as the upright storage position. The nozzle shifting mechanism and handle include means which bar the insertion of a dusting tool converter unless the handle is in the aforementioned predetermined position in which case the converter actuates the mechanism to place the nozzle in. non-cleaning position and to lock the handle in the said predetermined position. When the converter is withdrawn, the nozzle automatically returns to normal cleaning position and the handle is unlocked to allow normal pivotal movement of the handle on the cleaner body.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the; accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side sectional view of a suction cleaner embodying my invention taken along the lines l-i of Figures 2 and 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 2 is a partial plan view in section along the line 2-2 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a partial elevational view in section along the line 33 of Figure l and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the cleaner with parts omitted showing the control and handle interlock mechanism with the nozzle adjusted for high cleaning position; and

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the apparatus converted for dusting tool operation.

Referring now to the drawing in detail and first to Figure 1 thereof I have illustrated a suction cleaner comprising a main. casting I provided with a surface cleaning nozzle 2 across the front thereof in which is rotatably mounted a surface agitating and brushing device 3. The main frame of the cleaner is provided with a fan chamber i- Within which is mounted a centrifugal suction fan 5 carried by the shaft of an electrical drive motor 6 mounted on the top of the frame I.

The fan has a hub portion 7 extending through an ar inlet opening 8 in the casing 4. The hub portion 7 terminates in a drive pulley 9 positioned in an air duct #0 extending from the suction inlet 8 of the fan 5 to the nozzle 2. A drive belt H extends between the pulley 9 and the rotary 3 for driving the device 3 from the motor 6. The fan chamber i is provided with a discharge passage I2 which communicates with an exhaust elbow i3 for conveying dirt laden air to a filter mechanism.

The handle mount, filter and filter elbow support mounting illustrated herein is substantially the construction disclosed and claimed in the cotion to Werner G. Seek, Serial No.

56 projecting from a rearwardly extended section I! of the main casting I.

The cleaner propelling handle 20 seats in a socket member 2| carried by a split handle supporting ball 22. One leg of the bail 22 is journalled on the outlet portion of the exhaust duct l2 in a manner such as that disclosed in the aforesaid copending application. The other leg of the bail 22 is journalled on the pin Hi and is held in abutting relation to the bushing l5 by a spacer collar 23 which abuts the pin mounting portion of the elbow i3. A locking plate 25 is secured by means of rivets 26 to the portion of the bail arm 22 which pivots on the pin 14. The plate 25 is also pierced by the pin M as is apparent from Figures 1 and 2. The upper portion of the exhaust elbow it is provided with a cylindrical section 28 which receives the mouth portion of a filter 29, preferably of paper. A clamping wire it is provided for securing the filter 29 to the tubular member 28. The filter 29 is encased in an appearance bag 3!, preferably of fabric, which is closed at one side by means of a slide fastener 32. The upper end of the filter assembly may be connected to the upper portion of the handle 20 in a known manner The rear of the cleaner a pair of caster wheels 34 ported on a stub shaft 35 0 1y projecting arm 36 on the rearwardly extending portions ll of the main casting I. The forward portion of the cleaner is supported by wide tread large diameter wheels 38 carried by an axle 39 having its central portion 40 ofiset from body is supported by each of which is suparried by a downwardto a supporting surface upon which the wheels.v

38 are resting. A flanged collar 15 is rotatably supported upon the shaft 39 adjacent the wheel 38 on the right hand side of the cleaner facing forwardly thereof. The collar :15 bears upon the edge of an adjusting cam 4'15 which is pivotally mounted upon a stud llcarried by the. side wall of the fan housing i. The cam 45 is provided with positioning notches 49, 5G and 51. The central notch 56 is' closest to the stud 41, thus allowing the wheels 38 to swing into the cleaner body to a maximum distance and to lower the nozzle 2 to its closest approachto the supporting surface. The notch 50 locks the wheels 558 in the normal cleaning position. When the cam 55 is shifted on its axis to engage the notch id with the collar 45, the'axle is rotated a short distance counter-clockwise, as viewed in Figure l, which raises the nozzle to a high cleaning position for thick carpets and the like. When the cam 45 is rotated to engage the notch 5|, with the collar 45, the wheels 38- are' rotated a still greater distance counter-clockwise, as viewed in Figure 1, to raise the nozzle to its maximum non-cleaning position which also raises the rotary agitator 3'above surface engaging position. The notches 49 and 5%) are separated by deep shoulders so-that some positive action is required to shift the cam 46 to engage these notches with the shaft collar 45. The surface 52 separating the notches 5t and 5! is an arc of a'circle' drawn about the center of the stud'til wherefor only a slight force is required to rockthe' cam to remove-the notch 5! from the collar 45-and to engage'the notch 5Ei'with the collar. The reverse operation cannot be accomplished without applying an appreciable force to the cam because of the steep sides of thenotch 5B. A tension spring 53, connected between the axle 39 and the stud 5i, biases-the axle 39in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 1, to maintain the collar 45 in firm. engagement with the cam 45 under normal operating conditions.

A pivoted spring-closed gate 55 normally blocks communication between the duct it and a rearwardly and downwardly inclined passageway 56' which is part of the main frame I. The passageway 55 extends rearwardly and downwardly on the center line of the machine and its side walls are spaced inwardly of the pivotpoint of the handle bail as shown most clearly in Figure 2. The passageway 56 is joined-to the rearward- 1y projecting section I! of the main frame by a transverse plate 51 positioned just rearwardly of the fan casing i. The outer end of the passageway 5t is joined by a plate 58 to one leg of' a U-shaped pedal supporting member 59. The other leg of the member 59 is integralwiththe section Il'ofthe main-frame and depends-directly beneath the handle support 16.

The positioning cam- 46 connects to a drag link 68 which inturn is connected to one leg of a U-shaped'locking link 6 l. ing link are pivotally supported by a pin 62 carried by a pair of supporting post members 63 The legs of thelock projecting rearwardly from the plate 51. The bight portion 64 of the link 61 is positioned to rock over a horn member 65 projecting forwardly from the locking plate 25 when the handle is in the vertical storage position illustrated in Figure 1 for a purpose to be developed" more fully hereinafter.

The leg of the U-shaped link 6! to which link 69 connects is provided with a rearwardly extending section 65. which carries a short pin 61 engaging man open-ended slot 63 in the outer end of: one leg. ofia U- haped pedal member 69. The pedal 69 is pivotally mounted upon a pin it carried by the leg portions of the U-shaped supporting member 59. The pedal 69 has a foot engaging tread section 12 extending beyond the rear boundaries of the cleaner frame, as shown most clearly in Figures 1 and 2. A torsion spring Ti ismounted on the pin I6 and has extending end portions bearing onlthe bight portion of the pedal Biland support member. 59'to-bias the pedal in acounter clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1'.

Assumingthe'parts occupy the positions illustratedin Figure-l, itis apparent that a downward pressure applied to the tread portion of the pedal 69; will rock' the pedal in a counterclockwise direction which; through the engage- 111M117 of: the pedal with the pin 61, will rock the lever 61 in a clockwise direction which will impart a forward thrustto the drag link 60 and will rotate the cam 46- counter-clockwise to engage the high cleaning position notch 49'with the collaron the wheel axle to raise the nozzle to position'the parts as they are shown in Figure 4:; As' long as the handle is in the storage position shown in-Figure 1,.the foregoing action is-prevented by a pin 13 carried by the lockingplate-Zli overlying and-engaging an upwardly extending portion 14 on the inner leg of the pedal 59. When-the handle is dropped to operative, propelling position, the pin13 pivots away from engagement with the member 14 and the pedal may-be operatedasdesired.

It is apparent fromFigurel that raising the handle. tothe-upright storage position illustrated in Figure 1 will rockthe pin-T3- into engagement with the memberH'which-will rotate the pedal 59in a clockwise direction in turn rotating the link BI and. control cam 46 to disengage the notch 49 and engage the normal cleaning position notch with the collar: 45. That is, every time the handle of the-cleaner is placed in storage position; it operates upon the nozzle position control mechanism to place the same in the normal cleaning position if these parts do not already occupy that position.

The inner leg of the locking link 6! is provided with a depending portion having an angularly bent lateral extension H5 extending thrcugh an opening T1- in the adjacent side wall of the converter passageway 55. The lateral extension l6 acts as a'barrier to prevent the insention of a converting tool into the passageway as is apparent from Figures 1 and 3 and as a cam to be actuated by a converting tool 85, see Figure 5, to place the nozzle 2 ins. very high noncleaning position. Referring now to Figure 5, the condition of the parts is illustrated when a dusting tool converter is in operative position. The converter member 80 has an elongated portion 8| shown within the passageway 56 and sealing across the inlet opening 5 to the fan chamber.

In the position of the parts shown in Figure l, the barrier. cam 16 presents aninclinecl surface to the entrance to the passageway 56 at the bottom thereof whereby insertion of a converting tool into the passageway 55 will cam the barrier "is below the passageway 56 to rock the link 5i counter-clockwise and the cam 45 clockwise. Such rotation of the link iii and cam 55 will pass the bar 64 over the horn 65 to lock the handle in storage position and will engage the notch 5! with the collar 45 to place the nozzle in a high, non-cleaning position of Figure 5. If the han die is not in the position of Figure 1, the arcuate surface 21 on the plate 25 lies in the path of movement of the bar St to prevent counterclockwise rotation of the link 6! which action also prevents insertion of the converter because the barrier 16 cannot be moved out of the passageway 56. When the nozzle is in the high cleaning position of Figure 4-, the barrier cam it is in the top of the passageway 55 and cannot be actuated by the converter. The cleaner is changed from the high cleaning position of Figure 4 to the normal position of Figure 1 by mov ing the handle to storage position which action restores the parts to normal cleaning position. It is apparent from the foregoing that the con verting tool 80 can be inserted only when the handle is in storage position and that the handie is locked in such position as long the converter is inserted. The pedal s9 cannot be actuated to control the nozzle position when the converter is inserted because the barrier cam i3 engages the converter 8E! and prevents counterclockwise rotation of the link 8 i.

The converting tool Bil can be inserted by forcing the same into the passageway as when the cleaner is resting upon the floor with the parts in the position illustrated in Figure 1, but the application of the tool is much simpler if the handle is first raised to a storage position and used to rock the cleaner upwardly and forwardly upon the front edge of the nozzle to remove the wheels 38 from engagement with the floor. When this procedure is followed, the open end of the passageway 56 is facing upwardly and rearwardly where it is readily accessible and the camming action between the surface 75 and the converter tool '88 is required only to overcome the friction of the parts and the tension of the springs 53 and l I.

Immediately the converter tool 8!) is withdrawn from the passageway 55, the spring 7! rocks the pedal 69 in a counter-clockwise direction which acts through the links 60 and 6! to rotate the cam 46 counter-clockwise to return the normal cleaning position notch into engage with the collar i-ii. The spring ii has Sllfilcient strength to perform this function because the surface 52 isan are about the axis of rotation of the control cam. Hence rocking movement of the cam 46 in this direction does not act against the tension of the wheel positioning spring 53 until the axle drops into the notch 59 after which the spring ii is too weak to impart further movement to the cam 46.

The converting tool 80 is provided with a spring latch structure 82 adapted to engage with a hooked end 83 on the bottom wall of the passageway 56 to secure the converting tool in the passageway 56 against accidental displacement.

The present invention provides a suction cleaner support in which the handle actuates the nozzle to normal cleaning position whenever the handle is moved to storage position, the handle must be in storage position before a converter can be applied to the cleaner and the handle is locked in storage position when a converter is applied to the cleaner. In addition, a pedal is provided for moving the nozzle to a high cleaning posi tion unless barred by the handle being in storage position and the converter actuates the nozzle to a non-cleaning position from which the nozzle returns automatically to normal position when the converter is withdrawn.

I claim:

1. Suction cleaning apparatus comprising a frame including a suction nozzle, wheels for supporting said frame on a surface to be cleaned, means mounting certain of said wheels on said frame for movement toward and away from said frame to adjust said nozzle relative to a surface being cleaned, means for moving said mounting means to adjust said nozzle, a propelling handle pivotally mounted on said frame, means on said handle for operating said moving means to adjust said nozzle to a predetermined position when said handle is moved to a pro-selected position, means forming a passage for the insertion of a tool for converting the apparatus for off-thesurface cleaning, means carried by a part of said moving means extending into said passage to block insertion of such converting tool and having a cam surfaceto be engaged by such tool to be moved out of such passage by such tool and to operate said moving means to raise said nozzle to a non-surface engaging position, and means on said handle for barring operation of moving means to raise said nozzle to said inoperative position when said handle is in any position other than said pre-selected position.

2. Suction cleaning apparatus comprising a body having a suction nozzle thereon, wheels for supporting said body upon a surface being cleaned, means for moving certain of said wheels relative to said body to vary the position of said nozzle relative to said surface, pedal operated means for actuating said moving means to place said nozzle in a high cleaning position, a propolling handle pivotally mounted on said body, means on said handle for actuating said moving means to place said nozzle in a normal cleaning position when said handle is placed in a predetermined position, means for actuating said moving means to raise said nozzle to an inoperative, non-cleaning position, and means on said moving means for latching said handle in said predetermined position when said nozzle is placed in said inoperative position.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 including means on said handle for barring movement of said nozzle to said inoperative position when said handle is not in said predetermined position.

4. In a suction cleaning cleaner having a suction producing unit connected by an air duct to a surface cleaning nozzle and having a passageway for guiding a converting tool into said air duct, the combination of means supporting the rear of said cleaner, an aXle pivoted to the front of said cleaner having offset portions, supporting wheels on said offset portions of said axis, means for positioning said wheels relative to said cleaner to adjust the position of said nozzle relative to a supporting surface comprising a stop having first and second cleaning positions and a non-cleaning position, a foot pedal connected to actuate said step from said first to said second position, means for moving said step from said non-cleaning position to said first position, a propelling handle pivotally mounted on said cleaner, means operated by movement of said handle to a predetermined position for operat- 7 ing said stop from said second position to said first position, and means operated by insertion of a converting tool into said passageway for moving said stop to said non-cleaning position and for barring operationof said means for moving said stop from said non-cleaning position.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 including means on said handle for barring operation of said stop to said non-cleaning position when said handle is not in a predetermined position.

5. Apparatus according to claim 5 including means for locking said handle in said predetermined position when said stop is in said noncleaning position.

'7. In a suction cleaner having a suction producing unit connected by an air duct to a surface cleaning nozzle and having means forming a passageway for guiding a converting tool into said air duct, the combination of neans for porting such cleaner upon a surface, means for changing the position of said supporting relative to such cleaner to adjust the position of said nozzle relative to a supporting surface, means operated by insertion of a converting tool for actuating said position changing means to place said nozzle in a non-cleaning position, a propelling handle pivotally mounted on said cleaner, means on said handle for barring operation of said position changing means by a converting tool when said handle is not in a predetermined position, and means on said position changing means for locking said handle in predetermined position when said nozzle is in said non-cleaning position.

8. Apparatus according to claim '7 including means for actuating said position changing means to unlock said handle to place said nozzle in a normal cleaning position when said converting tool is withdrawn from said passageway.

9. In a suction cleaner having a body provided with. a surface cleaning nozzle, an air duct cornrnunicating said nozzle with a suction producing means on said body, a propelling handle pivotally mounted on said body, and a passageway for guiding a converting tool into said air duct, the combination of means for supporting the rear of said body upon a surface to be cleaned, an axle pivotally mounted on said body adjacent the front thereof and having end portions oifset from the pivotal axis thereof, wheels carried by said end portions for supporting the front of said body on a surface to be cleaned, a cam, means pivotally supporting said cam on said body, means biasing one of said end portions into engagement with said cam, said cam having notches therein positioned to be moved into engagement with said one end portion by pivotal motion of said cam to position said nozzle selectively in high or normal cleaning position or in non-cleaning position, an operating member for said cam pivotally mounted on said body, means connecting said operating member and said cam for imparting movement of said operating member to said cam, a foot pedal on said body member connected to said operating member to actuate said cam to place said nozzle in high cleaning position, means on said handle for actuating said pedal when said handle is placed ina predetermined position to place nozzle in normal cleaning position,

a cam arm on said operating member extending into said passageway to be operated by the insertion of a-converting tool topivot said operating member and said cam to placesaid nozzle in said non-cleaning position.

; Apparatus according to claim 9 including meanszon saidhandlebarring movement of said operating member by said cam arm to place said nozzle in said non-cleaning position when said handle is not insaid predetermined position.

11. Apparatus according to claim 9 including cooperating locking means on said handle and said operating member engageable when said handle is in said predetermined position and said nozzle is in said non-cleaning position to prevent pivotal movement of said handle.

12. In a suction cleaner having a body provided with a surface cleaning nozzle, a suction producing means on said body, an air duct extending from said nozzle to said suction producing means, a propelling handle pivotally attached to said body and means forming a passageway for guiding a converting tool into said air duct, the combination of means for supporting said body, means for moving said supporting means relative to said body to adjust the position of said nozzle relative to a supporting surface, mechanism for actuating said moving means having a operating part extending into said passageway to be operated by the insertion of a converting tool to operate said moving means to place said nozzle in a non-cleaning position, and means on said handle normally lying in the path of movement of a portionof said actuating mechanism to bar insertion of a converting tool and movable out of said path of movement of said portion of said actuating mechanism by movement of said handle to a predetermined position.

13. Suction cleaning apparatus comprising a body member having a suction nozzle, suction producing means on said body, means forming an air duct from said nozzle to said suction pro ducing means, means forming a passageway for the insertion of a conversion tool into said duct, supporting wheels for said body, means for moving certain of said wheels relative to said body to adjust the position of said nozzle relative to a supporting surface, said moving means including a part extending into said passageway into the path of a converting tool normally barring entry of such tool into said'passageway, said part including a cam surface engageable by such tool to move said part from said passageway and to operate said moving means to place said nozzle a non-cleaning position, a propelling handle pivotally mounted on said body, and means on said handle barring operation of said moving means by said cam surface to place said nozzle in said non-cleaning position when said handle is not in a predetermined position.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 including means on said handle and said moving means for locking said handle in said predetermined position when said nozzle is in said inoperative position.

15. Apparatus according to claim 13 including a foot pedal'for operating said moving means to place said nozzle in a first cleaning position, and means on said handle for operating said moving means to place said nozzle in a second cleaning position when said handle is moved to said predetermined position.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 including means for operating said moving means to place said nozzle in said second position when such tool is removed from said passageway.

1'7. In a suction cleaning apparatus having a suction producing unit connected by an air duct to a surface cleaning nozzle, means forming a passageway for guiding a converting tool into said air duct, anda pivotally mounted propelling handle, the combination of means including a movable member for varying the position of said nozzle relative to a surface to be cleaned, operator operated means for actuating said movable member to place said nozzle in a first cleaning position, means actuated by movement of said handle to a predetermined position for actuating said movable member to place said nozzle in a second cleaning position, means on said mova'ble member extending into said passageway and movable out of said passageway by insertion of a converting tool into said passageway to actuate said movable member to place said nozzle in a noncleaning position, and means on said handle barring movement of said movable means to place 10 said nozzle in said non-cleaning position when said handle is not in said predetermined position whereby said means in said passageway normally prevents insertion of a converting tool into said passageway.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 22,141 Taylor July 21, 1942 1,642,518 Throop Sept. 13, 1927 2,070,689 Smellie Feb. 6, 1937 2,188,379 Taylor Jan. 30, 1940 2,389,8 7 Snyder Nov. 27, 1945 2,416,418 Taylor Feb. 25, 1947 

